Interview: Hardik Pandya on 'Being a part of the Baroda Ranji Trophy team to his success with the MI and lifting the IPL Trophy'

Interview: Hardik Pandya on ‘Being a part of the Baroda Ranji Trophy team to his success with the MI and lifting the IPL Trophy’: Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League has been a team that loves to pick the best bets out there in the cricketing scenes, from picking Sachin Tendulkar as their icon player to Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Rohit Sharma, Richard Levy to Ricky Ponting and the very recent ones in Aaron Finch and Corey Anderson. They have always inclined to opt for the established names or the ones who have done exceptionally well in recent past. For the team to pick an uncapped youngster who just had an effective outing in the Ranji Trophy this season and hand him over an important position and role was quite surprising to say the least. The youngster in discussion here is 21 years old Hardik Pandya from Baroda, who has had a fantastic cricketing season first doing well for his home side in the domestic games and then lifting the IPL Trophy along with the Mumbai Indians’.

Ankit Mishra of Cricket Tracker has Hardik Pandya at the other end to answer them all for you- [Excerpts from the interview]:

In less than a year Hardik Pandya has grown on from an unknown boy to a household name, translate to us your cricketing journey?

It has been quite a journey, first playing for Baroda and then getting picked for Mumbai Indians. I was given an opportunity and I am happy I could come true to it.

How did Cricket start for you?

Cricket to me happened all of a sudden, almost accidentally, my elder brother Krunal would play at the Kiran Morey Cricket Academy and I was just there around as a 6-year-old, and when Kiran Sir saw me he told my father I was quite agile, had lot of energy and that I should be playing cricket and be a part of the academy instead. Then on I trained under him at the Academy and am where I am.

What would you like to call yourself an all-rounder or a batsman who can bowl?

An all-rounder definitely, I was a spinner to start with and then started bowling medium pace. But I like to bowl as much as I love batting.

Pandya has played 6 First Class matches, scored 285 runs there at an average of almost 24; but we see better numbers as the format changes. He has been a part of the Baroda team for 28 T20s and has put up 503 runs, with 2 half-centuries at a strike rate over 120 and more importantly has 17 wickets as well. Along with that Hardik has also featured in 4, List A games and impacted them with, 164 runs, scoring those at an average of 54.66. he comes in as a finisher in the end, and is someone who can play those big shots without slogging, with all the cricketing logic and sense behind and yet score at a quick rate.

Who has been your Mentor?

Kiran Sir of course and Jitendra Singh, we call him Jitu Bhai, he has played a huge role in my career and then Irfan Pathan for sure, he has helped me a lot while we were playing together for Baroda and even during the IPL.

Tell us about the experience you had at the Mumbai Indians?

The experience was amazing; I was really excited first to be picked for a team which had guys like, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Shane Bond, Jonty Rhodes in the support staff. To play for a team which is filled with such big names, all of whom are legends, it has certainly changed me and I will be a different cricketer here on.

How was the first encounter with Sachin Tendulkar?

The first encounter, was a surprise for me, we were at the Ambani residence having our dinner. I was not aware that Sachin would be coming, so while I was just having my dinner, I had him right behind me, he said hello, when I turned around to find Sachin Tendulkar I almost dropped my plate, was surprised and awestruck you can say.

What was the talk in the team about your role? Did Ricky Ponting or Rohit Sharma brief you at the start of the season or mid-way through it?

We had a lot of discussions before the start of the season, during the nets and the practice games, Ricky had told me that I was going to bat at number 5 or 6. He said he trusts me to finish the games for MI and had the role of being a finisher in the team. Also that I can generate descent pace with my bowling and that I will also be used as a bowler to bowl a few overs every time the team needed me. Ricky told me that you have the power to play the big shots, so you will have to do that for us towards the end of the innings.

This was your debut season in the IPL, first being picked by Mumbai, then getting a slot for yourself and eventually you had the opportunity to lift the IPL Trophy?

It is almost like a dream, MI is known to be a team which picks up the bigger, more established stars into the team and likes to bank on them to perform for the team. But they instilled faith in me and it felt nice to come true to it. After Rohit bhai was given the Trophy, I think him or Bhajji paa handed it over to me. It was amazing to be a member of the IPL winning squad right in the first season that I played in the IPL.

At what point do you believe things started to turn in your favor, from being ignored by Baroda for the Opening game in the Ranji Trophy to being a regular member and then owning yourself a spot in the Mumbai team, and eventually lifting the cup?

Since I was not picked for the Baroda Ranji Trophy team, I opted to play the U-23 games, than to just sit around and rust myself. The games there shaped up well for me, I scored a lot of runs for the U-23 squad and that was where things started to change. It followed with a call for the Baroda Ranji team, had a descent season for them and on that basis was picked by the Mumbai Indians. So you can say, my decision to play the U23 tournament than to sit and wait for an opportunity turned things around for me.

9 games, 112 runs and a wicket does not sound really big to be discussed; but the crucial aspect which might otherwise go unnoticed is the impact these runs have had, Hardik Pandya surely turned the tides in more than a couple of games in MI’s favor, he scored some 16 runs in the final over against RCB, which was his first shot at limelight; those big shots and the ease with which this not so muscular fellow stroked them grabbed enough attention. And then who can forget his 61* against KKR, where he completely outplayed his partner, the Big fellow from the West Indies Kieron Pollard and the 3 sixes he hit against Pawan Negi of the CSK, snatched them a victory out of nowhere and that is exactly what the team wanted him to do.

MI coach, the former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was quoted by IPLT20.com saying: “I have actually got quite close to him (Hardik Pandya) since I started in this job. That kid is fearless and has lots of very good skills,”

Will you like to qualify in every team that you play as an all-rounder?

Yes definitely, as an all-rounder, it gives me and the team an additional option to work out on and Ya things have been going well for me till now, so I would love to take the all-rounder’s position.

How helpful is it to hail from a family which already knows and plays the game?

It plays a major role, since my parents knew and understood the game; they never forced me into anything. My brother has also been a huge support for me, along with my father and my mom. He has helped me on the field to get things right, whatever I achieve in my career and my life I have these guys to credit. Krunal has been my backbone, right there behind, in everything that I am up to. My parents have always backed us, in whatever we chose to do, I was never good nor did I pay focus on academics and they never forced me to do that either. I am yet to pass metric, school or studies were always at the other end and cricket has been the priority.

Where do you think you edge ahead of your brother?

(Laughs) I edge past him with my bowling speed, you can say, I bowl a few yards faster than him. Along with that I have more power in my shots, I believe I can play the big shots better than him.

Irfan and Yusuf both the pro’s from Baroda have been all praises for you and famously called you the one to watch out for. How has your relation been with the Pathan brothers?

The two of them have been really kind; Irfan has been my friend, brother and Mentor since the time we met. It was during the Ranji Trophy that we met for the first time and I can say we are really close now. Though he was a part of CSK in the IPL and I played for MI we met at least 2 or 3 times while we were in the same city. He helps me out whenever I am low; Irfan bhai is a really positive person and has helped me fight through every occasion whenever I have failed to score big. For instance in my first innings against Railways I got out for just 9, I was disappointed to have got out early, but when I met Irfan bhai in the dressing room, he gave me the confidence that I can do well and said that since I could not make it count in this game I will fight harder in the next and that is what happened, I came back and scored some 90 odd runs in the next game.

What is the Mantra that you picked up from being a part of the Mumbai Indians?

The Mantra is to ‘Be Positive and keep focusing on the right things that are around’. Not just with MI, I believe this has been my mantra in life.

With T20 world cup approaching quickly and the prospect that it will be played in India. Do you fancy your chances of breaking into the team?

That will be a big call to make at the moment, of course I would love to wear the Indian jersey; playing for the nation is the ultimate dream for every cricketer. But at the moment I would like to focus on my game, keep performing and wait for the opportunities to come.

What are the plans now; the next step for your career?

I have done well this season, now I want to get back to Ranji Trophy and do well in the coming season, as that is what will take me ahead; playing good cricket and putting up good shows with consistency is a priority for me.

“Cricket Tracker also manages Hardik Pandya’s Official Facebook page, you can reach him on– HARDIK PANDYA OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE”